Unbalance sensing arrangement for machines having a centrifugal liquid extraction step



July 5, 1960 D. J. PAINTER 2,943,472

UNBALANCE SENSING ARRANGEMENT FOR MACHINES HAVING A CENTRIFUGAL LIQUIDEXTRACTION STEP 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 18, 1959 FlCzl INVENTOR.DELBERT II- PAINTER w P M H is ATT'bRNEY y 1960 D. J. PAINTER 2,943,472

UNBALANCE SENSING ARRANGEMENT FOR MACHINES HAVING A CENTRIFUGAL LIQUIDEXTRACTION STEP Filed May 18, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 7 2o Z2 Z4 9 l5 o o)8 2| 2.5 Q55 48 I9 56 4 )S O S -J 33 17 INVENTOR.

FIG- 2 DELBERT I PAINTER- ms ATTORNEY-Y July 5, 1960 D. J. PAINTERUNBALANCE SENSING ARRANGEMENT FOR MACHINES HAVING A CENTRIFUGAL LIQUIDEXTRACTION STEP 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed May 18, 1959 F'lG.3

INVENTOR DELBERT :r. PAINTER WASH up RINs: 'smul SPIN H Is ATTORNEYUNBALAN CE SENSING AGEMENT FOR MA- CHINES HAVING A CENTRIFUGAL LIQUIDEXTRACTION STEP Delbert J. Painter, Louisville, Ky., assignor to GeneralElectric Company, a corporation of New York Filed May 18, 1959, Sex. No.814,063

9 Claims. (Cl. 68-12) This invention relates to an improved unbalancesensing arrangement intended primarily for use in automatic laundrymachines of the type having a centrifugal liquid extraction step. Moreparticularly, it relates to an improved unbalance sensing and correctingarrangement which senses the force of gravity acting upon an unbalancein the type of laundry machine having a container or basket rotatable ona substantially non-vertical axis.

When an automatic laundry machine of the type having a rotating basketproceeds from a washing or rinsing step into a centrifugal extractionstep, vibration of the basket and of its enclosing tub structure maybecome quite substantial at the high rotational speeds required forcentrifugal extraction unless the clothes distribute themselves evenlyaround the basket. 1f this even distribution does not occur, the basketis dynamically unbalanced and, to whatever degree this condition exists,the vibration will occur. Actual harm may result to the machine fromsuch vibration; this is particularly so where, because of the increasingdemand for machines which take up a relatively small amount of spaceWithout any decrease in the load capacity of the machine, the clearancebetween the parts has been cut down as much as possible.

In the type of machine having a basket rotatable on a substantiallynon-vertical axis, any unbalance in the clothes distribution Within thebasket is acted on by the force of gravity. This force of gravity factorexists even before any perceptible amount of vibration has resulted fromthe unbalance. In other words, because of the gravity force, anyunbalance in the basket tends to create a torque in the same directionas the basket rotation when the unbalance is against the basket wallwhich is moving downwardly, and to create a torque opposing the rotationof the basket when the unbalance is against the wall which is movingupwardly.

It is an object of this invention to utilize this gravitational effecton the clothes in the basket to provide means for sensing unbalancesbefore any substantial vibrations have resulted therefrom.

A further and more specific object of the invention is to provide, in asystem Where the rotating basket is operated through driving and drivenpulleys connected by a belt, means which senses the variations in belttension resulting from the gravitational effect on unbalances andactuates suitable corrective means.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved washingmachine of the type having a centrifugal liquid extraction cycle inwhich vibrations during extraction are prevented by a system sensitiveto variations in belt tension when the machine is run at or slightlyabove the speed at which the clothes become plastered around theperiphery of the container, and which in response to belt tensionvariations of predetermined magnitude effects a redistribution of theclothes in the container prior to high speed operation.

-In one" aspect of my invention 1 provide, in a laun- 2,943,472 PatentedJuly 5, 1960 ice dry machine, a clothes container or basket which isrotatable on a substantially non-vertical axis. Multispeed means,provided for rotating the basket, includes a driving pulley, a drivenpulley connected to the basket to cause rotation of the basket, and anendless belt looped over both the pulleys so as to connect themtogether. The driving means is capable of rotating the basket at arelatively low speed suitable for Washing clothes in the container andalso at a relatively high speed in order to effect centrifugalextraction of liquid from the clothes; the speed provided is determinedby electric control means.

The basket is responsive to the force of gravity acting on an unbalancedclothes distribution to provide a torque feed-back through the systemwhich drives it. Since the tension of the driving belt is a function of,among other factors, the torque required to rotate the basket, anytorque feed-back will modify the tension of the belt to an extentdependent upon the magnitude of the torque feed-back; this, in turn, isdependent on the magnitude of the unbalance in the basket. Idler meansare arranged to resiliently engage the belt between the pulleys so as tobe movable in response to variations in belt tension. When thevariations are large enough they cause the idler means to transmit asignal to the speed control means to decrease the basket speed. Thispermits a redistribution of the clothes to take place; then the basketmay again be increased in speed to determine again if the balance of theclothes in the basket is within the acceptable range or not. It iscontemplated that, preferably, a suitable predetermined length of timeprior to the high speed extraction will be provided for this sensingoperation, and that thereafter the machine will proceed into high speedoperation.

The features of my invention which I believe to be novel are set forthwith particularity in the appended claims. My invention itself, however,may best be understood by the following description taken in conjunctionwith the accompanying drawings.

=In the drawings,

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a domestic laundry machineincorporating one embodiment of my improved unbalance sensingarrangement, certain surfaces of the view being broken away in order tobetter illustrate details;

Figure 2 is a rear elevational view of the machine of Figure l, with therear panel removed to illustrate details;

Figure 3 is a simplified diagram of a control circuit for use with theconstruction of Figures 1 and 2 and which embodies the improved featuresof my invention; and

Figure 4 is a cam chart showing a control sequence for the circuit ofFigure 3 appropriate for use in connection with my improved unbalancesensing arrangement.

Referring now to Figures 1 and 2, I show my invention in one form asapplied to a domestic washing machine 1 which includes an outer cabinet2 mounted on a supporting base structure 3. Access to the machine forloading and unloading of clothes is provided by a door 4 disposed in thefront wall 5 of the cabinet. The door is conventionally mounted onconcealed hinges and is opened by any suitable means such as a kneeoperated latch control 6.

Machine 1 is of the type which includes a clothes basket rotatable abouta non-vertical axis; specifically, it includes a substantiallycylindrical perforated basket or receptacle 7 mounted for rotation on agenerally horizontal axis within an outer enclosing tub structure 8.Basket 7 comprises a cylindrical wall or shell 9 which is closed at itsrear end by means of a suitable wall orplate 10. The basket alsoincludes a front wall 11 formed so as to define an access or loadingopening 12 in registry with an opening 13 formed in wall for door 4. Thebasket is rotatably supported by a shaft 13a mounted in elongatedbearing 14 hung from the rear wall 15 of tubstructure 8. Shaft 13a, aswell as supporting the basket, also serves as a means for turning itduring operation of the machine, being secured to the rear wall 10 ofthe basket as shown. The tub is also provided with an opening 16 alignedwith openings 12 and 13 so that clothes may be placed into and removedfrom the basket when door 4 is opened. 'The door seals against asuitable gasket 17 during operation of the machine.

Tub 8 is supported on base 3 by means of a plurality of brackets or arms-18 which are mounted on-upstanding plates 19 fixedly attached to thebase. While arms '18 can be secured directly to the wall of tub 8, theymay also be attached'thereto by means'of suitable' brackets 20 asshown.During the'operation of the machine, basket is driven from an electricmotor 21 through 'a drive including a pair of flexible belts '22 and 23.Belt 22 connects the output pulley (not shown) of motor 21 to the inputpulley (not shown) of a multi-speed transmission assembly 24. .Belt 23connects the output driving pulley25 of transmission assembly 24 to abasketdrive pulley 26. The basket drive pulley 26 is secured on shaft13a and imparts the rotation to basket 7 through the drive shaft.

The entire drive assembly including transmission 24 and motor 21 ismounted on a base member 27. At one end base member 27 is pivotallysecured by a pin 28 formed integral with the base member to asupportmember 29 fixedly secured to the base 3 of the machine. A pin 30 isalsosecured to base 3 at the end of base member 27 which is remote frompin 28. A compression spring 31 issecured at one end to a retainingelement 32 on pin 30 and at the other end to a retaining element 33 onbase member 27 so that the base member 27, with all parts of the drivemechanism, is resiliently mounted and biased in a suitable direction toeffect tensioning of the belt 23. The beltof course prevents the driveassembly mounted on base member 27 from pivoting farther downward thanthe illustrated position.

Machine 1 includes, of course, the other components normally provided inconnection with domestic washing machine. Thus, for instance, the watersupply means whereby water is admitted to and discharged from tub 8 mayinclude connections 34. and 35 through which hot and cold water issupplied to the machine for the washing and rinsing operations. A valvecontrolled by a solenoid 36 admits hot water to the machine and a valvecontrolled by a solenoid 37 admits cold water to the machine. The hotand cold water valves under the control of the solenoids 36 and 3.7discharge to a common outlet conduit 38, through a suitable air gap, andinto a funnel 39 which discharges into a line 40 leading to the interiorof tub 8 through a suitable connection 41. The air gap provided byfunnel 39 makes it impossible for water to be syphoned from the machineso as to contaminate the incoming water supply line. A pressure actuatedwater level cont-r0142, connected to the interior of the tub 8 by a line43, controls both solenoids 36 and 37 to maintain the proper water levelin the machine during the washing operation. The wash and rinse waterused during the washing operation is discharged from the machine througha sump 44 mounted at the bottom of the tub. Asuitable discharge hose 45leads from thesump to a motor driven drain pump 46 which dis charges tothe household drain througha suitable conduit such as hose 48.

With the apparatus shown, any. suitable sequence derived from the basicsequence of washing, rinsing and spinning may be utilized to effect thewashing operation. I

mately 47 rpm, for instance, for a washing operation and at a suitablehigh speed, generally substantially upward of 200 r.p.m., for thecentrifugal liquid extraction operation. The drive means is preferablydesigned to provide yet a third speed for the basket 7; this thirdspeed, may where the usual 26 inch diameter basket is provided, be onthe order of 70 revolutions per minute, which is slightly above theminimum speed at which all the clothes in the basket are under theinfluence of centrifugal force and are plastered against the basket wall9. While any suitable drive arrangement may be utilized to efiect thenecessary speed variations of basket 7, for illustrative purposes it isintended that motor 21 be of the two speed variety and that transmission24 also have two difierent speed positions: low speed of both the motorand the transmission provides the tumbling speed of 47 rpm; high speedof the motor with low speed of the transmission provides the 70 rpm.rotation desirable to effect plaster" speed; and either low or highspeed of the motor combined with high-speed of the transmission providesa centrifugal extraction operation with 'the' basket spinning at arelatively high speed. The transmission 24 may conventionally be shiftedbetween high and low speed by any suitable control means such as forinstance, a solenoid member 49 which, when actuated, puts thetransmission into its high speed position and when not actuated causesthe transmission to provide a lower speed to the basket '7. The controlof this solenoidmember 49, together with suitable control means formotor 21, will be fully explained'in connection with Figure 3.

It will be noted that when the clothes load within the basket 7 isunbalanced, then at the time that the extra weight is descending on theleft hand side of the basket (Figure 2) the unbalance will assist thedriving torque and will give the basket a torque tending to accelerateit ahead of the pulley 26 driven by belt 23. By the same token, when theunbalance is rising on the right side of the basket, the unbalancetorque feed-back will oppose the driving torque. This torque feed-backto the belt 23 which causes a modification in the tension of the belt,occurs, with a washer construction of the type illustrated anddescribed, substantially before there are any noticeable vibrations. Thevariations in tension of belt 23, as caused by the unbalances within therotating basket 7, are sensed by an idler pulley member 50 mounted on anarm 51 which is pivotably secured on a pin 52 extending from supportmember 29 and is resiliently biased against belt 23 by a spring member53.

It will readily be observed that when the feed-back torque is assistingthe driving torque, there will be less tension on side 53a of belt 23and more tension on side 54 of belt 23. Conversely, when the feed-backtorque is opposing the driving torque, there will be less tension onside 54- and more tension on side 53a. From this it can be seen thatwhen the feed-back torque is opposing the driving torque and rises to apredetermined value, the decreased tension on side 54 of belt 23 reachesa point where, because of the biasing action of spring 53, projection 55secured to arm 51 will engage a projecting member 56 of an arrangementenclosed in casing 57 secured to the back wall 15 of the tub. In otherwords, a predetermined amount of unbalance in basket 7 will, even beforeit causes vibrations to occur because of the effect of centrifugal forceon the unbalance, cause the projecting member 56 to be engaged by part55 of arm 51 because of the gravity caused torque feed-back resultingfrom the unbalance.

Referring now to Figure 3 in conjunction with Figure 2, it will be seenthat when projectingpart 56 is engaged by arm portion 55 it is movedagainst the bias of a light spring 58 which causes the member 56normally to assume the position shown; the biasing action of spring 58is limited by any suitable means such as a shoulder 59 which engages theinner surface of the casing 57. The right hand support for member 56 isprovided by an opening 60 which is larger than the member 56 so that alimited amount of vertical motion may take place. However, the member isbiased to its downward position by a light spring member 61 as shown.When member 56 is thus mounted, a projecting portion 62 thereof acts asa pawl in relation to a ratchet member 63 which is rotatably mounted incasing 57, i.e., engagement of member 56 by member 55 causes pawl 62 torotate ratchet 63. Ratchet member 63 is formed with three pairs ofopposed teeth 64, 65 and 66. Teeth 64 and 65 are of non-conductivematerial, but teeth 66 are of conductive material and are connected bysuitable conductive means 67. In addition to being movable by engagementof member 56 with arm portion 55 when a predetermined unbalance existsin basket 7, ratchet member 63 is rotatable upon energization of a smallmotor 68 which, as schematically shown, is connected to the ratchet soas to be in driving relation therewith.

Continuing to refer to Figure 3, it will be recalled that it was statedearlier that motor 21 is preferably a twospeed motor. In the presentcase, the two speeds of motor 21 are provided by engagement of a switcharm 69 with either one or two contacts 70 and 71. Switch arm 69 iscontrolled by a solenoid member 72, energization of the solenoid membercausing engagement of arm 69 with contact 71 and de-energization of thesolenoid causing engagement of arm 69 with contact member 70. Whencontact 76 is engaged, motor 21 operates at high speed whereas whencontact 71 is engaged the motor operates at its lower speed.

A third motor provided in machine 1 is a conventional type timer motor73 which is, in the usual manner, arranged to control a bank of cams(whose developed peripheries are shown in Figure 4, the heavy linesshowing cam rises for closing switches, the light lines showing dwellsfor opening switches); the cams, in turn, control timer switch members74, 75, 76 and 77. Referring briefly to Figure 1, the timer motor 73 isconventionally located in machine 1 in the backsplasher portion 78 whichsurmounts the casing 2. Backsplasher 78 is also generally provided withsuitable manually operable controls such as member 79 which is used topreset the positions of the timer motor switches to provide a suitablesequence of operations in the machine, as is well known in the art.

Referring now particularly to Figures 2, 3 and 4, the operation ofmachine 1, including particularly the operation of my invention toprovide suitable balance for the centrifugal extraction operation willbe described. It will be understood at this point that the timer motor73, in addition to controlling the specific components illustrated inthe circuit in Figure 3, also controls the operation of the otheroperating parts of the machine such as valves 36 and 39, and pump 46.Thus, by properly presetting control 79 a suitable sequence ofoperations will take place. conventionally, the sequence includes awashing operation, wherein solenoids 34 and 36 cause tub 7 to be filledto a predetermined level and pump 46 causes draining at the appropriatetime, followed by one or more rinsing operations during which the samesolenoid and pump operations are generally followed. At the end of therinsing operations, and in order to extract as much liquid from theclothes as possible before they are removed from the machine (or, wherethe machine is a combination washer-dryer, where they are dried by heatin the machine), a centrifugal extraction operation is provided.

It will be understood that during all washing, rinsing, and centrifugalextraction operations, motor 21 is in substantially continuous operationso as to provide either the tumbling operation of the basket duringwashing and rinsing, the plastering action desired during sensing, orthe high speed operation of the basket during centrifugal extraction. Inthe conventional type of cycle, switch 74 is closed from the beginningof the cycle through to the end thereof. Closing of this switchcompletes a circuit for timer motor 73 which, starting at line conductor80, proceeds through conductor 81 and the timer motor, conductor 82,switch 74, and back to the second line conductor 83. The circuit for themain motor is also completed through switch 74 by a circuit whichproceeds, starting at conductor 80, through conductor 84, motor 21,either contact 70 or contact 71 depending upon the speed of operation ofthe motor, arm 69, conductors 85 and 82, switch 74, and conductor 83.Thus, the closing of switch 74 insures the operation of timer motor 73and of operating motor 21 throughout the cycle of operations of themachine 1.

During washing and rinsingoperations, the timer motor causes switch 75to be closed; this energizes solenoid 72 through conductors and 86, thesolenoid 72 itself, conductors 87 and 88, switch 75, conductors 89, 90and 82, switch 74, and conductor 83. This in turn causes switch arm 69to engage contact 71 thereby providing for the low or tumble speedoperation of motor 21. Also, during the washing and rinsing operations,switch 77 is maintained open so that the spin solenoid 49' isde-energized; as explained above, de-energization of this solenoidcauses transmission 24 to provide a low speed transmission output.Switch 76 is also open during washing and rinsing operations so thatratchet motor 68 is de-energized and will not cause rotation of ratchet63.

When the cycle reaches a point where the last rinse has finished and itis desired to centrifugally extract liquid from the clothes in thebasket, switch 76 closes and switch 75 opens while switch 74 continuesto remain closed and switch 77 continues to remain open. With switch '76closed, energization of ratchet motor 68 then becomes dependent uponcompletion of a circuit from conductor 86 through switch 76, conductor91, the ratchet motor itself, conductor 92, contact member 93, oneratchet tooth 66, conductive portion 67, the second ratchet tooth 66,and conductor 94, to conductor 90. With this arrangement, it will beclear that when contacts 93 and 94 are connected by ratchet teeth 66, acircuit is completed for the ratchet motor 68, but that when eitherratchet teeth 64 or 65 are engaged by the contacts 93 and 94, theratchet motor is not energized so long as switch 75 is open.

Assuming thus that the ratchet 63 is in the position shown at theinstant switch 75 opens and switch 76 closes, motor 68 is energized andcauses ratchet 63 to rotate until a circuit is no longer completedbetween contacts 93 and 94, that is, until the ratchet has moved aroundto the point where contacts 93 and 94 engage opposing teeth 65. It willbe obvious that when ratchet motor 68 drives ratchet 63, member 56 will,due to the size of opening 60, ride over the ratchet teeth as theratchet rotates always returning to its engaging position as shownbecause of the action of spring 61. It will further be seen that if theratchet should be in the position where the contacts 93 and 94 engageteeth 65 when sensing is commenced, the ratchet motor will not operateand the ratchet will remain in its position. This is also true insofaras engagement of teeth 64 with contacts 93 and 94 is concerned.

At the same time that the above sequence of alternative events isoccurring insofar as the ratchet motor 58 is concerned, the opening ofswitch 75 causes de-energiza tion of solenoid 72, except when teeth 66bridge contacts 93 and 94. When the solenoid 72 is de-energized, contactarm 69 moves into engagement with contact 70 to provide the high speedconnections within motor 21, thereby causing the motor to increase thebasket speed from 47 r.p.m. toward 70 r.p.m. The increase in the torqueapplied and required to accelerate the basket 7 causes side 53a of belt23 to be under greater tension and side 54 to be under less tension sothat projecting portion 55 of idler arm 51 engages member 56 to causethe ratchet member to move around one tooth. At this point it will berecalled that because of the action of ratchet motor 68 the ratchetmember 63 either has teeth 64 or teeth 65 bridging contacts 93 and 94.In the event teeth 65 bridge the consmears tacts, the torque requiredfor acceleration causes the ratchet to be moved aroundone tooth sothatteeth 64 bridge,- the cpnta'c'ts, I n: the event teethfl were inbri dg:ing. position, this then causes teethf66 "t'pfmove intolbridg'f ing'posi tion and the ratchet motonis energized, moving the ratchet to theposition where. teeth: 6 br idgefthe con will be. in afposition Whereteeth 64 are in'b'ridgin'gposition. It will further be recalle di thatin this position 1 ratchet motor 68 and solenoid- 72am de rgized sincethere is no electricalbridge between contacts 93 and 94.

'If there nowiis a properly. balanced load within the basket then whenthe bajsket' speed is at 7.0 5 m., there will be no substantialvariationsin the tension ofbelt 23 As a result, ratchet 63 will rema inin itsfsame position, the basket will continue to meters 70' pm;throughout the sensing periodwiththe clothes being plastered asdescribed above an thus not changing their relative positions. If,however,once the basket rotatingat 7O r.p.in., there should be asubstantial unbalance present the basket which would cause undesirablevibrations should it be present during high speed rotation,the'feed-back as this unbalance is brought up on the right side of thebasket (as shown in Figure 2 will cause a tensioning of side 53a of belt23 and a loosening of side! 54 of the belt. If the unbalance is of apredetermined magnitude, the loosening of side 54, is such thatspring 53causes engagement of projection 55 with member SG thereby causingratcheting action to occur. Since, as described, ratchet 63 alwaysstarts with teeth 64 in bridging position, a ratcheting action at thistime will cause teeth 66 to move into bridging position therebycompleting an electrical connection between contacts 93 94. This effectstwo purposes: first, it completes an energizing circuit for solenoid 72which moves contact arm 69 into engagement with contact71 to returnmotor 21 to its tumbling speed of 47 rpm. At the same time, theenergization of ratchet motor 63 is causing the ratchet 63 to progressaround so that at the end of a predetermined length of time the ratchetis moved to the position where teeth 65 are in bridging position betweencontacts 93 and 94. This of course opens the circuit both to, thesolenoid 72 and to the motor6 8, the ratchet stops, and thedeenergization of the solenoid returns motor 21 to high speed. Thebasket'is therefore accelerated again toward 70 r.p,m.; thisacceleration, as described before, causes rotation of the ratchetonetooth wi dth so that teeth 64 are in bridging position instead of teeth65. When the 70 rpm. speed is attainedpthe s ame sequence then followsas before: if the clothes are properly balanced after the redistributionwhich occurred at speed, there will be no torque feed back on belt 23sufficient to cause rotation of the ratchet, and rotation of the basketwill continue at plaster speed throughout the sensing period. If, on theother hand, the redistribution was not successful in providing suitabledistribution of the clothes for balancing purposes, then the torquefeed-back will again cause rotation of the ratchet to the position whereteeth 66 are in bridging position and the slowing down, redis tribution,and reacceleration will again take place.

A predetermined amount of time, preferably on the order of two minutes,is allotted to the balancing operation as described above. It has beenfound that this period is suflicient with practically all types ofclothes loads to provide a properly disturbed load.

At the end of the sensing period switch 76 opens and switch 77 closes,the other two switches remaining as before. The opening of switch 76removes power from ratchet motor 68 regardless of the position ofratchet, 63,

. of ratchet 8. The closing. of switch 77 energizes spin solenoid 49 tocause the transmission 24 to provide a high speed output; Since solenoid72 is de-energized, thereby causing motor 21 toprovide a high speedoutput, it will readily be seen A that the combination of the motor highspeed and the transmission high speed elfects a centrifuging operationof several hundred r.p.m. basket speed, suitable for extraction ofliquid from the clothes. This continues for a suitable period, such asfor. instance five minutes At the end of, this time switches 7dand 77both open if the machine is simply a washing machine as illustrated, sothat the cycle of operations is, terminated, with the clothes being in adamp dry condition ready for removal from s ma hin It'will be seen fromthe foregoing that my invention providesa construction whereby thegravitational effect on an'unbalanced load in a basket rotating on anonvertical axis is utilized to provide an indication of. the need forredistribution of the clothes. It will further be seen that this isachieved with very little modification to the regular drive system forthe machine, and before any harmful vibrations can occur as a result ofan increase to a relatively high speed with the unbalance still present.

While in accordance with the patent statutes I have shown what atpresent is considered to be the preferred embodiment of my invention, itwill be obviousto those skilled in the art that various changes andmodifications may be made therein without departing from the invention,and I therefore aim by theappended claims to cover all such changes andmodifications as fall within the true spiritand scope of the invention.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of theUnitedStates is:

1 In a laundry machine, a clothes basket rotatable on a substantiallynon vertical axis; multi-speed drive means for rotating said clothesbasket including a driving pulley, a driven pulley connected to saidbasket so that rotation of said driven pulley causes rotation of saidbasket, and an endless belt looped over both said pulleys in drivenrelation to said driving pulley and in driving relation to said drivenpulley; said basket being responsive to the force of gravity acting onan unbalanced plastered distribution of clothes within said basket toprovide. a torque feed-back to said belt modifying the tension thereof;idler means resiliently engaging said belt between said pulleys andmovable in response'to varia: tions in belt tension; electric speedcontrol means having an energized condition and an unenergizedcondition, said control means being effective in one of said conditionsto'raise the speed transmitted to said basket, said drive means rotatingsaid basket at a relatively low speed for tumbling clothes therein whensaid speed control means in the other of said conditions; and meansproviding the other of said conditions in said speed control means inresponse to a predetermined magnitude of motion of said idler means to,decrease the basket speed sufficiently to effect a redistribution of theclothes.

2 The apparatus defined inclaim 1 wherein said multispeed drive means isresiliently mounted, and means are provided biasing said drive meansaway from said'driven pulley thereby to provide a predetermined tensionon said belt.

3. In a laundry machine, a clothes basket rotatable on a substantiallynon-vertical axis; multi-speed drive means for rotating said basketincluding a driving pulley, a driven pulley connected to said basket sothatrotation of said driven pulley causes rotation of said basket,"andan endless belt looped over both said pulleys in driven relation to saiddriving pulley and in driving relation to said driven pulley, said drivemeans rotating said basket at a relatively low speed for washing clothesin said basket, at a relatively high speed for centrifugal extraction ofliquid from the clothes, and at an intermediate speed high enough toplaster clothes about the periphery w of said basket for sensingunbalanccs; said basket being responsive to the force of gravity actingon an unbalanced plastered distribution of clothes within said basket toprovide a torque feed-back to said belt modifying the tension thereof;idler means resiliently engaging said belt between said pulleys andmovable in response to variations in belt tension; electric controlmeans for determining the speed transmitted to said basket; and meansoperating said control means during rotation of said basket at saidintermediate speed upon a predetermined magnitude of motion of saididler means to decrease the basket speed sufliciently to effectredistribution of the clothes.

4. The apparatus defined in claim 3 wherein said means operating saidspeed control means includes switch means engaged and closed by saididler means when said predetermined magnitude of motion is reached.

5. In a laundry machine, a clothes basket rotatable on a substantiallynon-vertical axis; multi-speed drive means for rotating said basketincluding a driving pulley, a driven pulley secured to and concentricwith said basket, and an endless belt looped over both said pulleys indriven relation to said driving pulley and in driving relation to saiddriven pulley, said drive means rotating said basket at a relatively lowspeed for washing clothes in said basket, at a relatively high speed forcentrifugal extraction of liquid from the clothes, and at anintermediate speed high enough to plaster clothes about the periphery ofsaid basket for sensing unbalances; said basket being responsive to theforce of gravity acting on an unbalanced plastered distribution ofclothes within said basket to provide a torque feed-back to said beltmodifying the tension thereof; idler means including an idler pulleyengaging said belt between said driving and driven pulleys, an armmember secured to said idler pulley, means resiliently biasing saididler pulley against said belt whereby said idler pulley and said armare movable in response to variations in belt tension; electric speedcontrol means having an energized condition and an unenergizedcondition, said control means being effective when unenergized to raisethe speed transmitted to said basket to said intermediate speed, saiddrive means rotating said basket at said relatively low speed when saidspeed control means is energized; and means operating said control meanscomprising switch means positioned to be engaged by said arm and closedupon a predetermined magnitude of motion of said arm during rotation ofsaid basket at said intermediate speed thereby to decrease the basketspeed to said relatively low speed to efiect redistribution of theclothes.

6. The apparatus defined in claim 4 wherein said switch means includes apair of stationary contact members and a rotatable member positionedbetween and in contact with said contact members, said rotatable memberbeing rotatable a predetermined amount in response to said predeterminedmagnitude of motion of said idler means, said rotatable member effectingan electrical bridge between said contact members when rotated to oneposition thereof, and disconnecting said contact members in all otherpositions thereof.

7. The apparatus defined in claim 3 wherein means are provided to returnthe basket speed to said intermediate speed after a predetermined lengthof time of decreased speed for redistribution purposes.

8. In a laundry machine, a clothes basket rotatable on a substantiallynon-vertical axis; multi-speed drive means for rotating said basketincluding a driving pulley, a driven pulley connected to said basket sothat rotation of said driven pulley causes rotation of said basket, andan endless belt looped over both said pulleys in driven relation to saiddriving pulley and in driving relation to said driven pulley, said drivemeans rotating said basket at a relatively low speed for washing clothesin said basket, at a relatively high speed for centrifugal extraction ofliquid from the clothes, and at an intermediate speed high enough toplaster clothes about the periphery of said basket for sensingunbalances; said basket being responsive to the force of gravity actingon an unbalanced plastered distribution of clothes within said basket toprovide a torque feed-back to said belt modifying the tension thereof;idler means resiliently engaging said belt between said pulleys andmovable in response to variations in belt tension; electric controlmeans having an energized condition and an unenergized condition, saidcontrol means being effective when unenergized to raise the speedtransmitted to said basket to said intermediate speed, said drive meansrotating said basket at said relatively low speed when said controlmeans is energized; and means operating said control means duringrotation of said basket at said intermediate speed, said operating meansincluding switch means comprising a pair of stationary contact membersand a rotatable member positioned between and in contact with saidcontact members, said rotatable member being rotatable a predeterminedamount in a response to a predetermined magnitude of motion of saididler means, said rotatable member effecting an electrical bridgebetween said contact members when rotated to one position thereof anddisconnecting said contact members in all other positions thereof toenergize said control means and thereby decrease the basket speed tosaid intermediate speed when said rotatable member is rotated to saidone position thereof; and an electric motor arranged to rotate saidrotatable switch member when energized, said motor being energized whensaid rotatable member is in switch closed position and beingdc-energized when said rotatable member is in switch open positionwhereby said motor rotates said rotatable member to switch open positionsubsequent to its being moved to switch closed position.

9. In a laundry machine, a clothes basket rotatable on a substantiallynon-vertical axis, multi-speed drive means for rotating said basketincluding a driving pulley, a driven pulley connected to said basket sothat rotation of said driven pulley causes rotation of said basket, andan endless belt looped over both said pulleys in driven relation to saiddriving pulley and in driving relation to said driven pulley, said drivemeans rotating said basket at a relatively low speed for washing clothesin said basket, at a relatively high speed for centrifugal extraction ofliquid from the clothes, and at an intermediate speed high enough toplaster clothes about the periphery of said basket for sensingunbalances; timer means providing in sequence a low speed washingoperation, an intermediate speed sensing operation, and a high speedextraction operation; said basket being responsive to the force ofgravity acting on an unbalanced plastered distribution of clothes withinsaid basket to provide a torque feed-back to said belt modifying thetension thereof; idler means resiliently engaging said belt between saidpulleys and movable in response to variations in belt tension; electriccontrol means for determining the speed transmitted to said basket;means operating said speed control means during said sensing operationupon a predetermined magnitude of motion of said idler means to decreasethe basket speed sufliciently to effect redistribution of the clothes,means for limiting the decreased redistribution speed of said basket toa predetermined length of time during said sensing operation and thenreturning said basket to said intermediate speed; said timer meansenabling said operating means during said sensing operation anddisabling said operating means during said washing and extractionoperations, said timer means terminating said sensing operation after apredetermined time and thereafter providing said high speed extractionoperation.

No references cited.

